By AZBEX Staff for Arizona Builder’s Exchange
Northern Arizona Healthcare approved a $300M investment over three years, to expand their facilities and programs as part of their New Era Strategic Plan to better serve the Northern Arizona community.
The plan, named NAH+ and described as a way to “to support a seamless continuum of care focused on health and wellness,” was approved by the NAH Board back in September 2018. The first community meeting presentation for the plan was held on January 14th.
According to a press release issued by Northern Arizona Healthcare on November 19th, 2018, “Major initiatives are called out in the New Era Strategic Plan to support the communities in Northern Arizona. More than 60 percent of patients treated in Flagstaff are from outside of Flagstaff, making NAH’s Flagstaff Medical Center a regional provider of inpatient care. In the Verde Valley, expanding access to outpatient services, including primary, specialty and cancer care, is a top priority, while also continuing to provide high-quality care in our hospital.”
Projects added to the first phase of the Strategic Plan, according to the release, include:
- Redesign of inpatient facilities to create all private rooms and expanded care areas.
- Development of an outpatient surgery center.
- Expansion of outpatient care, including the Children’s Health Center.
- Additional primary care access.
- Immediate care in Camp Verde.
- Redesign of the Medical Office Building located on the Verde Valley Medical Center campus.
- Consolidation of services at the NAH Village of the Oak Creek Campus, including EntireCare, lab, primary care and eventually immediate care.
- Remodel of Sedona Campus to include oncology.
Children’s Health Center
A second press release was issued by Northern Arizona Healthcare on January 24th announcing only a portion of the Strategic Plan, the Children’s Health Center expansion.
The Children’s Health Center, located at the West Campus of the NAH Flagstaff Medical Center, is going to be moved to a new location near the Flagstaff Mall.
According to the press release, “Not only will this new location improve access, since it is conveniently located off Highway 89A, and will have more parking available for patients, but the cost of care will be less. Improvements in the way services are offered will allow NAH to offer care at a lower cost to patients.”
The larger space will also allow the Children’s Health Center to expand other services into East Flagstaff.
According to the release, the Children’s Health Center is expected to be open in the fall of 2019. Messages left for Northern Arizona Healthcare regarding an architect and general contractor for the center were not returned by press time.